Why Do The Sun And The Moon Appear Bigger Near The Horizon?

An optical illusion caused by the refracting of light by the atmosphere was once considered to be the reason why the Sun and the Moon appeared bigger when they were near the horizon. However, when photos of them at different heights in the sky were examined, the size remained unchanged.

It’s now believed that the images of the Sun and the Moon received by our retina, regardless of their height in the sky, are constant. However, our brain compensates for the perceived change in distance by interpreting them as larger.